Backstage
at Animal Kingdom
Tour Review

by Deb Wills

This review first appeared in the February 20, 2001, issue #73 of ALL
EARS®

Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.

I'd been
hearing lots of good things about the Backstage Tour at Disney's Animal
Kingdom, so decided to sign up for it on my last trip to Walt Disney World.

When I called
Walt Disney World Tours (1-407-WDW-TOUR), I was told to BE SURE
to get to Conservation Station on the very first train, which meant before
8:15 a.m.! Needless to say, I was on the first bus from my resort to Animal
Kingdom, and made a beeline for the railway to Conservation Station at
the park's opening. I arrived at the entrance to the railroad walkway,
along with several other tour participants, only to find out we had to
wait there until 8:30. The Cast Member said he wished that WDW-TOUR would
stop telling people to be there at 8:15.

Deb's
Tip: On the Train to Conservation Station, pay attention as you go past
the first housing group. Look up from the grass to see the Lion Rock and
you might just catch a glimpse of a lion!

At the entrance
to Conservation Station, we met Paul, our tour guide. He had hot coffee
waiting for us, a REAL treat on this rather cool morning. Not all the
tour participants were on the first train, and when they didn't arrive
with the second train, the 10 of us started on our way without them.

Deb's
Tip: There is a 24-hour cancellation policy for all WDW tours. If you
find you won't be able to make the tour, be sure to call and cancel or
else you'll be charged for the tour anyway!

Paul started
off by giving us the ground rules for the tour -- the big one was NO photography.
Our entire tour was "backstage" and Disney has a strict "no photos" backstage
policy.

We stopped
in front of a holding area for owls and saw both brown-and-white freckled
tawny owls and dark brown spectacled owls, both of which are usually
on stage in the Conservation Station once a day. I asked if these were
the owls seen in the Flights of Wonder show in Asia and Paul explained
that thos birds belong to one trainer with whom Disney contracts to do
the show.

We next spent
about 30 minutes in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) barn,
a huge area of steel bars and concrete flooring that also serve as the
pens for the rhinos. One of the things I noticed was how intricate the
security system is... there are numerous gates and locks, checks and balances.
In some areas of the barn there are no doors or gates and you move from
place to place going through the steel bars. The keepers continually informed
each other as to where they were and where the various animals were.

All five
species of rhino fall under the American Zoo and Aquarium Association
(AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program, which Disney's Animal Kingdom
adheres to, to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species.
Nicole, an animal keeper, stayed with us during the entire rhino barn
visit, providing us with details about these amazing animals, particularly
the white rhino, which can weigh up to 4,500 pounds. We learned here that
Disney's Animal Kingdom practices "protective contact," meaning the keeper
does not enter the animal's pen or space. The animals are trained to come
to the bars for training and examination.

Deb's
Tip: Note the display of rhino photos and genealogy at the entrance to
the barn. There are three herds of white rhinos at Animal Kingdom, eight
rhinos altogether, spanning three generations.

Although
I was warned when I signed up for the tour that there would be no interaction
with the animals, we were in fact able to touch a rhino, which I found
had very hard, slightly hairy skin. Nicole explained that rhino horns
are made of hair and we got an opportunity to look up close and actually
see this for ourselves. She also pointed out scrapes on the bars where
the rhinos actually shape their own horns, making each one unique.

We were all
curious as to how they get the animals to return to the barns in the evenings.
Nicole explained that each animal goes through a training process with
sound cues to call them in at night. Each animal type has its own cue.
For the rhinos, metal bars are banged, cheetahs are called with a bicycle
bell. Nicole told us most animals now know that when the sun goes down,
it's time to head back to the barns and they are often waiting for the
keepers to let them in.

Deb's
Tip: Pick up a copy of the Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme
Park, for sale in most of the park stores for $12.95. I found it an invaluable
resource! It told me, for example, that the white rhinoceros is not white
at all, but slate gray to yellow-brown. The name derives from wijt, which
means "wide" in Afrikaans. Rhinos have a 16- month gestation period. At
birth, they weigh 80-100 pounds.

The elephant
barn is similar to the rhino barn, only much bigger! The metal bars in
the elephant barn, called ballards, are 14 feet tall and sunk four feet
down into concrete! Disney's Animal Kingdom has seven female and three
male elephants, with 11 keepers and three managers to take care of them.

Elephant
keeper Marcia explained more about the concept of protective contact,
saying that it had its origins in dealings with marine mammals. She then
talked to us about the positive reinforcement training program of the
elephants that eventually gets the animal to respond to verbal cues. Marcia
discussed how Disney's elephant program goal is to breed these animals.
In anticipation, a birthing stall has recently been set up, with heating
coils installed to warm the stall's cement.

The protective
contact program has worked extremely well with the elephants, which have
learned that their pen is theirs and no one (animal or human) will enter
it. In the wild, you will never see an elephant lay down and it is rare
at other zoos. However, at Animal Kingdom, the elephants feel so safe,
that they will lie down for short periods of time. Marcia also discussed
the problems of poaching and the environment during this segment of the
tour.

As we moved
to the next stop on the tour, Paul gave us a little insight into the soon-to-open
Animal Kingdom Lodge. The animals there will be on a separate Savannah
from the ones seen at Kilimanjaro Safari. The first two animals to arrive
for Disney's Animal Kingdom were two giraffes. These same two giraffes
were the first two animals brought to the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah!
Paul also told us Disney will be strictly enforcing the rules of the Animal
Kingdom Lodge especially as they pertain to the animals -- any guests
breaking these rules will be warned once, but subsequent infractions will
lead to their being escorted out of the resort.

After a brief
stop in front of a completely netted outdoor area, where we met keeper
Christie and the African pygmy falcon, we proceeded to the Animal Management
Office Building. En route, we learned about the parrot play area and the
mobile vet truck used at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Deb's
Tip: Note the original color artist sketches of Animal Kingdom when it
was still in development in the hallway of the Animal Management Office
Building. They are beautiful!

We were directed
to a the classroom where we finally got to sit and relax a bit -- up until
now we had been on our feet for the entire tour. Paul talked to us about
the enrichment program that has been set up for all the animals, a very
important part of their day. The scientists continue to think of creative
ways exercise and train the animals so they will not become bored!

Paul told
a humorous anecdote about Spike, the male lion, whose favorite food is
rabbit. The rocks that Spike and the female lion share on the Savannah
are separated from the jeeps by a 20-foot moat. It didn't take long for
Spike to find the moat and discover it was much cooler than sitting in
the hot sun on the rock. To try and get him to spend more time on the
rock (and in view of the guests on safari), the scientists decided to
cool the rock area with air-conditioning. At first, Spike enjoyed this
and would spend his hours up there, but eventually was back in the moat.
The scientists then put Spike's food (a frozen whole rabbit) on the rock
for him to eat. That kept him out of the moat for a little while, until
he realized he could throw the rabbit in the moat and eat it down there.
Now the rabbit is frozen in a huge block of ice that is chained to a portion
of the rock. Spike no longer can throw it into the moat and has a wonderful
ice pop to keep him entertained during the day.

Another part
of the classroom experience was an eight-minute video on animal husbandry
that was just fascinating! It's all about teaching the animals to do things
that allow the keepers to take care of them. Even the lions have 30-minute
training sessions each day.

After the
classroom time, we visited the Forage Warehouse. On the way, we could
see the fires from Kali River Rapids ride and the top of the Tree of Life!
Before we entered, Paul asked if anyone had serious hay allergies or had
to stay away from microwaves. As we entered through the doorway; a blast
of air came down from above (Paul had warned us about this). Turns out
this is an invisible barrier designed to keep the insects out of the building.

First stop
inside is the hay barn, made up of bales of dried grass and alfalfa hay.
The grass bales turn over quickly -- 30 go to the Elephant Barn alone
each day! Also in the hay barn were bags of shaved wood and recycled cardboard
for bedding, and bags and bags of Zoo Chow called Mazuri (a company of
Purina)!.

As we entered
the actual food preparation area, there were a number of shelving units
filled with a wide variety of human foods which included: Cheerios, peppermint
extract, all natural Polaner jellies, Skippy peanut butter, pumpkin, grits...
well, you get the idea! These foods are all used as part of the enrichment
program. For instance, the mandrills and gorillas LOVE Tabasco sauce,
so it is sometimes used on their food.

A fascinating
part of the forage warehouse is the Browse Cooler. Here is where branches
of leaves are brought after they have been cut down around 2 a.m. The
cooler keeps them fresh and then they are delivered to the animals 30
hours later.

We couldn't
enter the carnivore freezer, but Paul brought out some samples to show
us. There is actually a company in Florida called Gourmet Rodent -- they
raise the rodents, use carbon monoxide to kill them and then they are
put in plastic bags and frozen. Beef is not used at all, but horsemeat
is (high in protein and low in fat).

Our last
stop on this wonderful tour was at the Veterinary Hospital, which can
also be seen by guests at Conservation Station.

Deb's
Tip: When you visit Conservation Station, be sure to check the white board
in the hospital area so you can see what procedures will be performed
that day.

We visited
the operating room and learned about the recovery room, intensive care
area and also the quarantine room, where each animal that arrives at Animal
Kingdom spends two to four weeks.

The tour
concluded back in the classroom with some final information and closing
remarks. Some of the interesting things we learned about Disney's Animal
Kingdom and its residents:

-- Each animal
has a tiny microchip embedded under the skin. This aids in keeping track
of the animal, both its location and also its health records.

-- Cast Member
rumors vary widely on what is coming next to Animal Kingdom. Current rumors
include a new land themed to South America or Australia. Once the new
area is built, you will then be able to cross into different areas of
Animal Kingdom , unlike now, where you have to always return to the hub.

-- Animal
Kingdom is the largest of all the parks. The Magic Kingdom can fit into
Kilimanjaro Safari. Each of the three main parks can fit inside of the
Animal Kingdom, it's that HUGE.

-- Dr. Laura
Graham, of Disney's Animal Kingdom, has developed the first "home pregnancy
test" for elephants.

I highly
recommend Backstage Safari! It was an excellent tour full of lots of fascinating
information. The tour is all standing and walking except for the short
break in the classroom. We were given a survey to fill out about the tour
and also a special Backstage Safari pin.

Paul was
an excellent tour guide and I'm sure that contributed to the great feeling
I had about the tour. He was able to explain things in basic terms and
willing to answer any question we raised. He was enthusiastic and very
knowledgeable! Disney did well hiring this retired Michigan school teacher!
If Paul is your guide, tell him Deb from the Internet said hello!

NOTE:
The Backstage Tour of Disney's Animal Kingdom is three hours long and
is offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for $65. Discounts may
be available for American Express, Disney Club and Annual Pass Holders
so be sure to ask when you call Walt Disney World Tours at 1-407-WDW-TOUR.